Ilaria
He was some kind of pervert or a pediphile one, I swear to god. The way he was watching her made my skin crawl. Granted, I had noticed the little girl playing in the park across the street, but I had done so because she was adorable and her laugh was musical.
He didn't look as if he laughed at all let alone found music in a child's laugh. No, the way he watched her was predatory, and I didn't like it. While sitting eating lunch outside at a cafe across from the park I had, as I said, noticed her. Then I noticed him watching her, and I couldn't look away.
I threw money down on the table, enough to cover my food and a tip, and quickly walked across the street. I figured I'd stay near to her until her parents showed themselves, then either explain the situation, or just leave. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to try and grab her with someone standing right there.
Of course, just a few days ago I would have sworn I was smart enough not to fall for the bullshit my college roommates dumped on me, yet here I am, alone in a foreign country, proving that wrong. Yup, in an airport, boarding pass in hand, 2 minuets from having my flight called, I get a text, a mother fucking text, sorry, we changed our minds. I know there was other bullshit they spewed as far as reasons and such, but I was stuck on the whole, we changed our minds.
So now I'm in Kazan, Russia, crossing the street to a park, because of Mr. Creepy and the skeevy vibes he's giving me.
Just before I actually reached my destination, he straightened up from where he'd been ducking down, appearing to hide. So I paused for just a second. Had I read the situation wrong? Then I looked over my shoulder in the direction he was laser-focused on. A nondescript dark van had just pulled up along the curb.
Several things went through my mind as the sliding door opened. First, why there, and not the parking lot a short distance away? Two, why the hell was no one getting out of the open door? It was just sitting there with the engine running.
My blood turned to ice in my veins and I quickly looked back at the girl. I saw stalker man, turn towards her, and we both started running at the same time. Thank god I was so much closer.
I threw myself between her and his grabbing hands. I wrapped her in my arms and hunched my body protectively around her. I pulled us down to the ground to make as small a target as possible, and offer her the most protection.
He was screaming something in Russian, which I don't speak, so I didn't understand. I felt a hard blow to the back of my head, but I kept my position over the girl. I felt another blow and saw stars for a moment, but the hands that were reaching, trying to grab her, from around me, didn't get past my guard.
Suddenly, he was no longer there, and all I could hear behind me was a brief scuffle, and moving feet. The girl in my arms was crying.
"Sweetie, I hope you can understand me, but I swear I'm not going to hurt you. I just didn't want that bad man to grab you. I will let you go now." I unwrapped my arms and pulled back to sit up on my heels. Before I fully registered what she was doing the little girl threw her arms around me and cried with her face buried in my chest. I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms back around her.
"Shhh, it's okay, I won't let him hurt you. You're safe now honey." I gently rocked her and rubbed her back trying to soothe her.
We were surrounded by a circle of big intimidating men, so once again I tried to wrap myself around her, and crouch down over her, as a protective barrier between her and danger. I heard a low voice ask something in Russian, and the little girl answered in kind. Hopefully, that meant she knew these guys.
"Do you know these men?" I hoped she understood my English.
"Da, he's my papa." She pulled back and a huge smile appeared on her tear stained face.
I looked up into the very intimidating deep blue eyes, and a rugged face, complete with a well trimmed beard, and neat dark hair. His look was hard as he regarded a stranger holding his daughter. I once again tried to pull away from her, and once again, she clung to me. He said something to me in Russian.
I sighed, "Sorry, stupid American who doesn't understand Russian." I shrugged and shook my head.
He smiled, he actually smiled, and it completely changed the whole dangerous brooding look he'd been sporting, "I asked if you were hurt, I saw him hit you with his gun."
Ah, so that's what it had been, well, at least he didn't shoot me, "I'll be okay, it hurts a bit, but right now I'm still pretty ramped up on adrenaline."
"Most likely, so, how did you know he was coming for my daughter?" He was back to looking dangerous.
"I was having lunch across the street, just glancing around at everything, and your daughter caught my eye. She's adorable and her laugh sounded magical. While watching her, he caught my eye. I realized he was also very intently watching her. He didn't seem right as he was hunched down as if hiding. So I thought I'd just come close so he knew someone was watching."
I paused and wet my lips with my tongue, and he watched me closely, "Just before I reached her he suddenly stood up, threw down the paper he'd been holding, and looked rather intently at the street."
I gathered my breath, "I saw a dark blue van pulled up along the curb, and opened the sliding door. I wondered why they were just sitting there against the curb rather than going just a few feet to the parking area, and no one was exiting the vehicle. I saw that man turn towards her, and we both ran to her, I was closer."
"Yes, we saw you grab her, wrap her in your arms, and use yourself as a human shield. The van drove away, but we caught the man, and street cameras should help us find the van. I'm sorry that we weren't faster to get him away from you and keep him from laying his hands on you." He sounded really angry.
"I'm just glad your daughter is okay, she seemed really upset there for a bit, but she seems to have calmed down some." She was still curled into my side.
"She will be fine, thanks to you." He smiled adoringly at his little girl, "So, what is the name of my daughter's very brave savior?"
"I don't know about all of that but my name is Ilaria." I smiled a little shyly at his praise and he beamed a big smile at me.
"The man will be taken care of, you have my word." His face flashed almost sinister glee when he said that.
I nodded, "Well I'm not sure how much help I'd be, but if I need to give a statement to the police or anything let me know."
He smiled like he had a secret I didn't know, and he found that far too amusing for such a handsome man, "What hotel are you staying at, the least we can do is give you a ride."
"Ah, okay, I was pretty much done for the day anyway." I gave him the name of my hotel and he relayed the information to the men who were still standing around us.
Then he stood and reached his hand down to help me up, when I stood up, and the world started spinning.
He reached out and grabbed my shoulders, "Are you alright?"
Dragori
As I held onto her shoulders, feeling a bit of her flesh beneath my hands, I decided that from this moment on, she's mine. I will accept no refusal, not even from her, so we shall see how she takes it. Here in my Bratva Territory my word was law, so claiming her was my right at Pakhan.
So, now to get her to come home with me.